Our Charity has been able to fund a brand new AccuVein device for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) thanks to a generous grant received from the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity.

AccuVein is a handheld device that illuminates the veins under the skin to make inserting a cannula (a thin tube) much easier, which in turn can provide a less painful experience for the baby and so makes a difference to their care.

Our Charity team visited the NICU and were welcomed by Deborah Kirby, Neonatal Clinical Assistant Practitioner and Sarah O'Mallo, Neonatal Discharge Co-ordinator, whose fundraising efforts for the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity has helped to fund the AccuVein.

We heard just how impactful this device has been so far and were lucky enough to meet a two-day old baby – not yet named – and his father Mohammed Mashuk Meah. Our team saw the AccuVein device being used on Baby Meah and the difference this made.

Deborah Kirkby, Neonatal Clinical Assistant Practitioner said:

Having used it to cannulate many babies of varying sizes, I am delighted with the results and know that the AccuVein is a great asset to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, especially for difficult cannulations and larger babies

Pictured above from left to right: Yasser Sameh (Junior Clinical Fellow), Mohammed Mashuk Meah (Father of Baby Meah), Rebecca Ntow (Junior Clinical Fellow), Deborah Kirkby (Neonatal Clinical Assistant Practitioner) and Sarah O’Mallo (Discharge Coordinator).

We would like to extend thanks to Mohammed for allowing us to be present during this moment and meet baby Meah, as well as to the team at UHL's NICU for their vital work.

If you would like to support us in any way, please consider donating so we can continue to provide improved care for our patients.

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